Budapest has undergone a lot of transformations in its long and chequered history. From Turkish occupation, to the Habsburgs, to the Nazis and Communists, Hungary has copped it all. They’ve come out on top though, and the result if crowning glory of Budapest.
Hungarians really like foosball.
And palinka.
Don’t know what palinka is? Well after a solid night of it, you probably won’t remember anyway.
Read on to find out how the mix of these two very different and unique cultural quirks mixed with a turbulent history has made this one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan and eclectic cities.
And palinka.
Don’t know what palinka is? Well after a solid night of it, you probably won’t remember anyway.
Read on to find out how the mix of these two very different and unique cultural quirks mixed with a turbulent history has made this one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan and eclectic cities.
Things to See and Do
In Budapest, most significant sights are centred around the Danube river. The Castle Hill rises up out of nowhere on the Buda side, the Hungarian Parliament sits on the Pest side and the Chain Bridge joins the two very different halves of the Budapest. Spending a day on each side is the best way to cover the city, but when night falls, you want to be firmly on the Pest side to experience the selection of awesome, yet random, bars scattered throughout.
Castle Hill
The most prominent landmark in the landscape of Buda, Castle Hill is where the, you guessed it, the old castle used to be. It is dotted with great things to check out and has a real old town European feel to it. Definitely dedicate an entire day to this part of Budapest as there is a lot to see.
Royal Palace
Visible from all along the riverside on Pest, this is the most standout landmark atop Castle Hill. It’s been rebuilt many times over the centuries (Ottoman era, Habsburg era, post-WW2, Communist etc) and is a great example of Baroque architecture. It’s undergone many transformation based on ruling parties, with the guts ripped out many times and refitted depending on who was occupying Hungary at the time.
There is a fantastic fountain around the back that depicts a group of hunters and hounds with a killed deer, very dramatic and will be crawling with tourists trying to get the perfect photo of it.
Matthias Church
One of the most important churches in Hungary, the Matthias Church has seen many coronations and Royal weddings take place here. The present building was built in the 14th century, however the site dates back to the 11th century. It’s adorned with incredible orange/green/white tiling on the roof and the way it reflects the sunlight is nothing short of dazzling.
Don’t really bother buying a ticket to go inside though, it’s not nearly as amazing as the outside.
Fisherman’s Bastion
Built to commemorate the seven founding Magyar tribes of Hungary (there is a tower for each one), the Fisherman’s Bastion was built in the late 19th century and affords some amazing views of the Danube. It’s called the Fisherman’s Bastion because it was built on a part of the hill that was guarded by the fishermen during the Middle Ages.
Tip: Don’t bother buying a ticket for this either. Walk to the end and go up into the restaurant in the last tower (pictured above) for a great view of the Danube and the Pest side of the city.
Gellert Hill
Gellert Hill is named after St Gellert (Gerard), the Italian bloke who came to Hungary to convert all the Pagans to Christianity. As per usual in those times, he was brutally murdered in some way by the natives and was then canonised for his sacrifice.
Up on the hill are two worthwhile sights, the Liberty statue and the Citadel. Oh, and there’s a bar up there. For when you want to soak up the decent hike up and the wicked view of Pest with a few beers.
Liberty Statue
The Soviets erected this statue at the end of World War 2 to “commemorate” the “liberation” of Hungary. That was until they were swiftly transitioned to another brutal dictatorship under the Iron Curtain.
When the Hungarian Revolution came around in 1956, they decided to get rid of the Red Army soldier in front of the statue but leave the statue itself, instead rededicating it to the “second” liberation of Hungary and to freedom and independence of all the country.
